The Royal Ballet School Announces New Teaching Pathways with RAD and ISTD
The Royal Ballet School’s Diploma of Dance Teaching (DDT) students will now be able to access the School’s Affiliate Programme and gain accredited teacher status with leading international dance education, training, and examination boards—The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD).
“These new partnerships reflect our belief that outstanding teaching belongs in every studio, and we’re proud to support our graduates in shaping the future of dance wherever they teach and whoever they inspire,” Karen Berry, head of teacher training at The Royal Ballet School, said in a recent press release.
Students who have completed the School’s two-year DDT course (graduates from 2014 to the present) can now access three distinct routes for continued professional development and teaching accreditation: The Royal Ballet School Affiliate Teacher status, ISTD Full Teaching Membership, and RAD Registered Teacher Status.
Through a condensed course of study that offers a mix of online and onsite training and self-study, DDT students will be eligible to gain Affiliate Teacher status with the School’s Affiliate Programme, giving them access to exclusive learning materials, expert mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
The ISTD will also recognize the School’s DDT qualification to support graduates on their teaching journeys with access to ISTD Full Teaching membership. This professional status allows teachers to deliver classes and prepare students for ISTD examinations, and offers them access to the extensive syllabi, continuing professional development courses, and business-support tools.
The School also joins the RAD’s list of dance awarding societies to offer DDT graduates RAD Registered Teacher Status with benefits that include the opportunity to appear on the global RAD Register of Teachers, enter students for RAD exams, participate in professional development programmes, and join a worldwide community of educators.
Applications for the Royal Ballet School’s Diploma of Dance Teaching will open early 2026. Learn more here.